While many Americans may not remember Wednesday as the 36th anniversary of the Iran hostage crisis, Tehran will mark the anniversary with rallies of millions of citizens chanting "Death to America" and "Death to Israel," House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce said.
"After four decades, some write off chants of 'Death to America' as empty rhetoric," the California Republican said in an
op-ed piece for Fox News. "That’s exactly what the administration does.
"But if the Obama administration continues to put false hope for cooperation with Iran over basic U.S. interests, such as the safety of American citizens, I fear the death of American leadership in the Middle East."
Royce noted that Tehran continues to take Americans hostage like they did to 52 of them in 1979, subjecting them to 444 days of "living hell."
He called last week's arrest of Iranian-American Siamak Namazi "the latest affront." The executive joins four other Americans being held by Iran.
"These five Americans have faced torture and been denied medical treatment, basic legal representation, and due process," Royce said. "Their treatment demonstrates how Iran’s leaders view the United States with utter contempt.
"Yet, the Obama administration refuses to demand their release so as not to upset the potential for cooperation" because of the recent Iran nuclear agreement, he said.
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